Finding blood stains on your concrete surfaces can be an unsettling experience. Whether it’s the result of an accident, injury, or something more sinister, blood spills can leave behind stubborn stains that seem impossible to remove.
Thankfully, getting blood out of concrete doesn’t have to be a lost cause. With the right supplies and techniques, you can lift those troublesome blood stains to restore the look of your driveway, garage, patio or other concrete surfaces.
Gather Your Supplies
Before tackling a blood stain on concrete, it’s important to gather the appropriate supplies. This will make the process faster and more effective.
Protective Gear
Due to the biohazardous nature of blood, it’s essential to wear proper protective equipment when cleaning up a blood spill. This includes:
- Gloves – latex or rubber gloves prevent contact between blood and skin
- Goggles – protect eyes from splashes of cleaning solutions
- Face mask – reduces exposure to fumes and airborne particles
- Apron/smock – provides barrier between clothes and blood
Protecting yourself is the first priority, so don’t skip the safety gear.
Cleaning Agents
You’ll need an effective agent designed to break down dried blood. Good options include:
- Sodium peroxide – powdered oxygen bleach ideal for lifting blood from concrete
- Vinegar – helps neutralize and remove residue after cleaning
- Bleach – diluted bleach can also effectively clean blood stains
- Hydrogen peroxide – another alternative for removing set-in blood stains
- Commercial cleaners – products like OxyClean, poultice, or alkaline cleaners made for blood removal
Sodium peroxide is the most commonly recommended chemical, but alternatives like hydrogen peroxide or bleach solutions also get the job done.
Tools
Round out your supplies with the tools to apply cleaners and scrub away stains:
- Scrub brushes – stiff bristled brushes help lift stains
- Pressure washer – useful for dried blood stains
- Bucket – for mixing cleaning solutions
- Rags – help distribute and wipe up cleaning agents
With the right gear, you’ll be equipped to tackle even the most stubborn blood stains on concrete.
Step 1 – Act Quickly
When confronting a blood spill, it’s critical to act fast before the stain has a chance to set into the concrete. Blood begins drying in just a few minutes, so every second counts.
Ideally, you’ll want to start cleaning immediately as the stain occurs. This will make the removal process much simpler.
If the blood has already dried, your job becomes more difficult – but not impossible. Dried blood just requires a bit more elbow grease.
Either way, treat any blood stained concrete as an emergency. Don’t let time make a stubborn stain even tougher to clean.
Step 2 – Saturate with Water
Before applying any chemical cleaners, the first step is to thoroughly soak the blood stained area with water. Focus on saturating the stain.
Cold water works best, as hot water can cause blood stains to set further. The goal is to dilute any remaining blood residue and soften the concrete surface.
Continue saturating the stain with fresh water until you’ve created a puddle. This will allow the water to fully penetrate the stain.
Let the area soak for 5-10 minutes. This gives the water time to loosen the blood’s grip on the concrete.
Step 3 – Apply Sodium Peroxide
Now the stained area is prepped, it’s time to apply the star chemical – sodium peroxide.
Mix the sodium peroxide powder with just enough cold water to form a paste. You want a consistency that can be spread thickly over the surface. Add water gradually until you reach the ideal texture.
Use a trowel, rag, or old toothbrush to spread the paste generously over the blood stain, covering the area 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
After the paste is fully applied, wet the layer once more with fresh cold water. This reactivated the oxygen bleach to start lifting the blood.
Step 4 – Let Sit 5-10 Minutes
Next comes the waiting game. Allow the sodium peroxide solution to sit on the blood stain undisturbed for 5-10 minutes.
This gives the mixture time to penetrate deep and break down any remaining blood residue clinging to the concrete.
As it sits, you should see the sodium peroxide paste begin to bubble and foam. This is a sign that the oxygen bleach is actively working to lift the blood.
Be patient during this step and allow the solution to do its job fully. Don’t rush things!
Step 5 – Scrub and Rinse
Now comes the hands-on work. Take a stiff bristle scrub brush and work it over the foaming sodium peroxide paste.
Apply moderate pressure as you scrub to help dislodge the blood stain from the textured concrete surface.
Make sure to scrub both horizontally and vertically to clean the crevices. This mechanical action lifts the final blood residue.
After a thorough scrubbing, rinse the concrete thoroughly with fresh water. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear with no trace of the pink sodium peroxide cleaning solution.
Be sure to remove all cleaner residue, as leaving it behind could damage the concrete.
Step 6 – Neutralize and Reapply if Needed
For the final step, pour vinegar directly over the scrubbed area. Vinegar neutralizes and removes any remaining sodium peroxide residue.
Let the vinegar sit briefly before a final rinse. It should fizz slightly as it dissolves the last of the cleaner.
Once thoroughly rinsed, inspect the concrete for any lingering blood stains. If the stain persists, repeat the sodium peroxide process.
With a bit of persistence, your concrete will be restored to a blood-free surface.
Tips for Dried Blood Removal
If blood has dried on your concrete, removing it becomes more challenging. Here are some tips:
- Pressure wash with detergent – Dried blood can be broken up using a pressure washer with detergent attachment.
- Try hydrogen peroxide or bleach – These can also lift dried blood stains through longer soaking and scrubbing.
- Consider hiring a professional – For large or difficult dried blood stains, a professional biohazard cleanup company may be needed.
While not impossible, dried blood will likely take some serious effort to thoroughly remove from concrete.
Dealing with blood on your concrete surfaces can be daunting. But in most cases, you can achieve blood-free concrete again using just 6 simple steps:
- Act quickly to treat the stain ASAP
- Saturate the stain with cold water
- Generously apply sodium peroxide paste
- Let the mixture sit 5-10 minutes
- Scrub away stain and rinse thoroughly
- Neutralize with vinegar and repeat if needed
With the proper gear and cleaning agents, getting blood out of concrete is very doable through a bit of DIY elbow grease. Just be sure to protect yourself and work swiftly as soon as a blood spill occurs.
Before long, you can restore your concrete surfaces back to their original pristine, blood-free state.
Use a Steam Cleaner
Using a steam cleaner is an effective way to lift blood stains from concrete without relying solely on harsh chemicals. The pressurized, high-heat steam helps break down blood residues and also disinfects the surface.
Steam cleaning is a smart eco-friendly addition to your blood stain removal toolkit for concrete.
Consider Hydrogen Peroxide
While sodium peroxide is the go-to chemical cleaner, hydrogen peroxide makes a good alternative for removing blood from concrete.
Hydrogen peroxide won’t work quite as quickly or powerfully as sodium peroxide. However, it can still be effective when combined with scrubbing and soaking time.
Test hydrogen peroxide on a small area first to ensure it won’t damage or discolor the concrete before attempting large stains.
Test the Cleaning Solution
It’s always wise to test your chosen cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous part of the concrete before applying it to the entire blood stained area.
This will let you gauge whether the solution could potentially damage, discolor or react poorly with your specific concrete surface.
Applying a test area first gives you an idea of results and helps prevent making the stain worse through trial and error.
Address the Root Cause
If a blood stain is caused by an accident, injury or similar event, it can be worth exploring ways to address the root cause after finishing cleanup.
This might involve adding safety railings in hazardous areas, improving lighting, or stocking first aid kits in high-traffic zones.
Taking preventative steps can help avoid repeat blood stains and make the area safer.
Seek Professional Help
In certain cases, blood stains may require more than DIY methods. If the stain covers a very large area, resulted from a serious biohazard incident, or proves extremely stubborn, calling in professional assistance is recommended.
Companies specializing in blood cleanup have the right expertise, protective gear, and industrial equipment to fully sanitize affected concrete, as well as properly dispose of contaminated materials.
Seeking professional help ensures the stain is remediated safely, thoroughly, and in compliance with regulations.
Use a Concrete Sealer
Applying a concrete sealer can help prevent future blood stains from penetrating deep into the concrete.
Sealers create a protective barrier that makes it harder for blood to soak in. This allows stains to be cleaned more easily.
Sealing doesn’t make concrete stain proof, but adds an extra layer of protection from blood and other stubborn stains taking hold.
Consider Natural Alternatives
Along with harsher chemical solutions, some household natural cleaners can also work to remove dried blood from concrete.
Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar are examples of gentler ingredients you likely already have on hand that can help lift blood.
Natural cleaners may require more scrubbing and soaking time compared to stronger chemicals. But they can be used in conjunction with sodium peroxide to enhance cleaning.
When tackling blood stained concrete, be conscious that some people may have allergies or sensitivities to certain chemical cleaners.
Bleach and ammonia are two common examples. Ask anyone assisting with cleanup if they have any chemical allergies first for safety.
Opt for low-odor and fragrance-free versions of cleaners whenever possible. And make sure the area is well ventilated during and after cleaning.
